Page 92

“You asked me to come over?” I frowned. “This morning?”

“I did” Dan spoke slowly, sounding like he was speaking to himself more than me. He closed the bedroom door behind him before walking across the room and sitting on the couch, his eyes glued to the ground.

“What’s wrong, Dan?” For some reason I felt like I shouldn’t move any closer to him, as if he needed to be on his own.

“Maddison. She’s dying.”

“You mean that she is getting weaker?”

“No, I mean she is dying. Right now.”

My body stiffened. I just couldn’t believe that fate believed that my life didn’t suck enough. Not only was I losing my mate. But I was about to lose my best friend. But this wasn’t about me. In this moment, everything was focused on another girl, who was dying in a hospital bed at this moment.

“Go.” My voice was low. I knew I didn’t have to shout at him. “Go save her!”

Dan looked up at me, tears dripping down his face. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.” I got up from the bed and went to stand in front of him. “Dan, if you let her die, you will never forgive yourself.”

“I love you.” Dan’s stood up and placed his hands on my hips. “This is the only way we can be together, if I let her go. She’s human after all. The pull is less.”

“Dan, I love you too. But I could never love you as much as she can, and you can’t love me as much you will love her.” I placed a hand on his cheek, wiping away his tears. “Go save the love of your life.”

“I can love you just as much.” Dan shook his head. “I want to be with you.”

“Dan.” I pushed his hands away from my hips. “Maddison is your mate. I never was. We…aren’t meant to be together.”

“We are.” Dan reached for me, but I took a step back. “Chloe, please?”

“So you’re telling me you are going to let your mate die?” My voice hardened. “She only dies once, Dan. You can’t make her come back. Once you lose her, that’s it.”

“I…” Dan’s words dropped off. His face was painted with heartbreak.

“If you can tell me that you don’t love Maddison right now in this moment, then I’ll support your decision.”

Dan’s lips didn’t move, and his eyes couldn’t look into mine. I knew I had my answer and he had his.

“Go, Dan, before it’s too late.” My voice was breaking and I couldn’t keep the tears masked for much longer. Slowly Dan made his way across the room and opened the door. He looked at me and I smiled weakly at him before he closed it.

I heard his footsteps run down the staircase, and I slowly fell to my knees hugging myself. Alec was right. I had no right to keep him from his mate, his happiness.

I hugged myself tighter and began to wonder, why me?

***

I don’t know how long I cried on the floor, but I knew it must have hit the hours mark. My legs were dead, and I couldn’t move. And though I had cried for hours, it didn’t seem like the tears would be ending anytime soon.

Every tear I had ever held onto was now falling, and I couldn’t help it. I felt broken.

“You’re going to get dehydrated.”

I looked up through tear-stained eyes to see Alec leaning against the door with his arms crossed. I hadn’t even heard him come in, let alone close the door.

“Sorry.”

“For crying? You’re ruining Dan’s carpet, not mine. Though the noise is starting to get on my nerves.”

“For before, for what I said,” I sniffed. “It was heartless. I’m sorry.”